Komakata Hall and Azuma Bridge, No. 62 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo

It is the rainy season of the Fifth Month (June to early July), a time of overcast skies and persistent light rain. Against the subtle suggestion of rain, which is very difficult to achieve, two balanced images stand out against the sky: the red flag, a symbol of rouge (for this is the sign of a cosmetics dealer) and a small cuckoo known for its sharp cry, associated in poetry with dawn and with loneliness. The placement of the cuckoo above Komakata Hall (seen here at the lower left) is no accident but a reference to a famous love poem by a Yoshiwara courtesan awaiting the return of her lover.